RCSI Bahrain yesterday celebrated the biggest day in its calendar, hosting its first Virtual Conferring Ceremony for the Class of 2020, with 152 graduates from the School of Medicine, along with 44 Bachelor graduates from the School of Nursing and Midwifery and 13 Nursing Master graduates from the School of Postgraduate Studies and Research.

Two virtual conferring ceremonies were held which featured congratulatory and supportive messages to the graduates from His Excellency Lt General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, the Chairman of the Supreme Council of Health, and from Her Excellency Faeqa bint Saeed Al-Saleh, the Minister of Health. HE Shaikh Mohammed stated in his message: “I want to take this opportunity to thank RCSI Bahrain for its clinical research in the fight against COVID-19 and for its continuous support of the Government’s monumental efforts in containing the pandemic and to protect public health.” While HE Faeqa Al-Saleh stated in her message: “I would like to thank the medicine and nursing students for volunteering with the Ministry of Health and supporting the efforts led by the Government. You have set the bar high for the following classes and you’ve demonstrated your ability to go above and beyond your duties to help in the betterment of your country.” The virtual ceremonies started with an address by the President of RCSI Bahrain - Professor Sameer Otoom, commending the graduates of the Class of 2020 on obtaining their Bachelor degrees in their fields and for overcoming the challenges that they have faced due to the pandemic. Professor Otoom said in his address: “Today is the culmination of many years of hard work and focused dedication. Those who graduate today have succeeded in overcoming many difficulties and in the most challenging of times. I am extremely proud of our class of 2020. I am also really proud of the RCSI professional and academic staff who have honoured our mission and our commitment to our students and their success. The years ahead are sure to bring many more challenges, but if recent events tell us anything, it is that the RCSI Bahrain Class of 2020 is equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitude to meet the challenges and become successful and caring professional doctors and nurses.” Professor Otoom also commended the Kingdom of Bahrain for its monumental efforts and procedures taken to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

President of RCSI - Professor Patrick Ronan O'Connell and Chancellor of NUI (National University of Ireland) - Dr Maurice Manning, also addressed the Class of 2020, praising them for their resilience during these challenging times and expressed their eagerness for the graduates to join the lines of healthcare leaders around the world.

The Master of Ceremony for the conferring, Professor Martin Corbally, Professor of Surgery and Head of Surgery Department at RCSI Bahrain, virtually presented the graduates with their degrees and recited with them their Graduates Declaration; a proclamation of their commitment to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and ethical practice in their careers.

Associate Professor in Family Medicine, Professor Ghufran Jassim congratulated the Class of 2020 and read out the names of the School of Medicine graduates. The Director of Bachelor of Science Nursing Programme, Dr Eman Tawash recited the names for the School of Nursing and Midwifery Bachelor graduates and the Director of the Masters in Nursing Programme, Professor Maura Pidgeon for the Nursing Master graduates from the School of Postgraduate Studies and Research.

The virtual conferring ceremonies for the Class of 2020 concluded with Vice President for Academic Affairs and Head of School of Medicine of RCSI Bahrain, Professor Alfred Nicholson, presenting awards to the high achieving students from both schools.

The School of Medicine class valedictorian, Dr Bassam Alhamer won the Professor James Finucane Prize in Medicine, Degree Award Marks Gold Medal and Senior Cycle Silver Medal.

Dr Mohamed Almajed was awarded with the Highest Aggregate Marks Gold Medal and the Senior Cycle Bronze Medal, and Dr Reem Althawadi was awarded with the Professor Niall O’Higgins Prize in Surgery.

As for the School of Nursing and Midwifery, the class valedictorian Hawra Saeed was awarded with both the BSc Nursing Gold and Silver Medals. The MSc Nursing Gold Medal was presented to Bisma Singh. The BSc Nursing Bronze Medal was awarded to Abier Anfos and the Rufaida Alaslamia Prize in Nursing was awarded to Marwah Sayer.

Professor Nicholson stated in his closing remarks of the conferring ceremonies: “Having already inspired future cohorts of RCSI Bahrain graduates by your deeds over recent months, I have no doubt that you will continue to inspire as alumni. On my own behalf and on behalf of all of faculty here in RCSI Bahrain, I offer you heartfelt congratulations, and wish you every success as you embark on the next phase of your career. I hope you all take fond memories of your time with us and I look forward to hearing of your future successes. We certainly will not forget the Class of 2020.”

Since hosting its first Conferring Ceremony back in 2010, RCSI Bahrain has produced more than 2000 graduates in medicine, nursing and postgraduate studies who are now working in 26 countries across the world.